While Chilemba was able to land repeated jabs and occasional right hooks to the head and body, those facts must be considered within the context of him lacking power and thus Kovalev being more lax on defense to focus on his offense. Had Chilemba more power, Kovalev would have made certain to sharpen up his defense at the expense of being less aggressive offensively.

Ward-Kovalev is penned for November 19, 2016. So what was noteworthy?

Kovalev's offense is predictable – jab, jab, jab, straight right hand, jab...something else if opponent is against the ropes. Kovalev tends to lean out over his front foot to extend his jab and straight right hand – quite often – where either side of his body is exposed. His manner of approach is always in straight lines.

There is no variation in Kovalev from one fight to the next because it is always the burden of his opponent to adjust to his power and reach. Over time, however, his hands and feet appear to have quickened and so he has gradually mastered his singular strategy.

Image: LA Times

Chilemba spent the entire night on the defensive and moving backwards to cope with Kovalev's power. The occasional counter here and there tamed Kovalev enough that get the knockout. He was knocked down with approximately thirty seconds left in the seventh round. A left hook to the body hurt Chilemba where he found himself backing straight up right in the path of Kovalev's right hand. He was similarly sent back into the ropes by a hard jab from Kovalev with forty seconds left in the following round. Resilient, Chilemba made it through.